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Our clinic hours are Monday to Friday from 8am-8pm and weekends from 9am-5pm. Please call ahead for visits and we'd be happy to book you in as soon as possible!
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It's that time of year again -
Heartworm and Flea Season!
Did you know that Heartworm is present on every continent except Antarctica?? It occurs where these 4 factors are present:
A susceptible host population
A stable reservoir of the disease
A stable population of vector species
A climate that supports the parasite life cycle
Dogs are considered to be the definative host for the parasite. Untreated dogs provide a stable reservoir for the disease. Moquitoes of several different species are the vectors (intermediate host for the developing microfilariae). Development of the microfilaria in the mosquito is temperature dependent and requires about 2 weeks time before becoming infective.
Heartworm disease is a life-threatening illness that is transmitted by moquitoes, and is almost entirely preventable.
Mosquitoes bite the pet and transit worm-like parasites called microfilaria. These microfilaria migrate through the tissues and then occupy the main pulmonary arteries of the lungs and right ventricle of the heart. As the worms grow and reproduce, they release more immature worms into the bloodstream. As other mosquitoes bite and feed on the infected pet, they pick up these immature worms (microfilariae) and transmit them to other pets they bite. Heartworms can grow very large (up to 12 inches) and cause extensive damage to the cardiovascular system.
Yearly blood testing for Heartworm disease is recommended as well as Preventative medication during the mosquito season. Mosquito season in Ontario is June to November.
Heartworm Disease is much easier to prevent than it is to treat! Heartworm testing is already underway at the clinic! This year we are offering Wellness testing in conjunction with our heartworm tests. These tests can provide us with valuable information regarding the internal health of your pet. Early stages of disease can often go unnoticed, as there may be no clinical signs present. Catching abnormalities early (from routine blood screening) can help us prolong the life of your pet! Ask us about Wellness Testing at your next visit!!
Exciting News
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We are thrilled to announce the safe arrival of Dr Ninas beautiful baby boy Henrik - and Dr Sarahs beautiful baby girl. For those of you have been lucky enough to meet some of our new faces - we know you will agree - we have added two wonderful new doctors to our growing practice. Dr Diane Corlett comes to us with more than 25 years of experience in small animal medicine and surgery. Dr Corlett has so many talents - including CHIROPRACTICS and ACUPUNCTURE!!! If you think your pet might benefit from one of these wonderful tools - please contact us and we will book a consultation with Dr Diane. We have also welcomed Dr Stephanie Livermore to our practice - she is a phenomenal Veterinarian with special interests in surgery and internal medicine. We are now able to offer you two Veterinarians on site 7 days a week !!!!
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We have also introduced ULTRASOUND and DENTAL RADIOGRAPHY to our hospital - ultrasound is such an incredible way to 'take a look' inside your pet's body in the most gentle - non invasive way. By using dental xrays we can better identify painful teeth and keep your friends mouth much healthier.
If you are new to us - please don't hesitate - come by for a tour and to meet our wonderful staff.
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